8.1.3 Single Pensioner Bereavement Payment

Step

Action

1

Check if the correct person has been cancelled.    

2

Check that the date of death advised on the death notification matches the date recorded on VIEW or the DPS report.

3

Check that the deceased pensioner's payments have been stopped. If not stopped, manually terminate the pension in [glossary:PIPS:][glossary:.:]     

4

Ensure that the bereavement payment has been paid. If not paid, investigate why, you may need to manually process the bereavement payment.    

5

Check if the deceased's next-of-kin been recorded on VIEW or in the deceased pensioner's file.

6

Check if the deceased was noted as single on both the DPS report and the death notification. If the death notification indicates a partner, who was previously unknown to DVA, further investigation should check if the partner may be entitled to partnered bereavement payment.    

7

Check if the deceased also received disability pension

• if yes, refer to disability pension bereavement procedures    
  More →

  Procedure Library

  Chapter 8.2 Disability Pension Bereavement Payment

  More → (go back)
• if no, proceed to the next step

8

Check if the deceased has entitlement to any other bereavement assistance

• funeral benefit    
  More →

  Policy Library

  Chapter 8.3 Funeral Benefits

  More → (go back)
• war graves    
  More →

  DVA Website: War Graves

  http://www.dva.gov.au/commems_oawg/OAWG/Pages/index.aspx

  More → (go back)

9

Check the comments on the DPS report for this case and ensure that all required payments or actions have occurred.    

10

Establish whether an overpayment recovery action is required.    

11

Record on the DPS report, any follow-up actions required for the case.     

Step

Action

1

In PIPS, cancel the deceased's assessment, payments and fringe benefits entitlement from date of death.    

2

Calculate the single income support pension bereavement payment.    

3

Deduct from this any pension payment already released since date of death.

4

Issue a cheque payable to the “Estate of the Pensioner”.    

5

Send with a covering letter either to the next-of-kin (if known), or to the estate under care of the last known address of the pensioner. Access the Standard Letters System folder [Bereavmt], file [gen advice NOK].

Step

Action

1

In PIPS, cancel the deceased's assessment, payments and fringe benefits entitlement from date of death.    

2

Calculate the total amount of pension paid following the date of death.

3

Check if the payments released since date of death.

If the pensioner was paid...

Then...

direct to a financial institution

check if any returned bank credits have been received (VIEW, tab: 'Outward Payments', folder: 'Returned Payments')    

by cheque

refer to the payment certification coordinator to check if the released cheque(s) have been presented for payment

• if not presented, 'stop' any outstanding cheques
• if presented, investigate who cashed or deposited the cheque, by requesting a copy of the presented cheque
• care: if cheque was cashed by a third party, who is not connected with the estate of the late pensioner, you should refer the case to the National Fraud Control Unit

by group payment

refer to the group payment coordinator and investigate the whereabouts of the funds

4

Deduct the entitlement of single income support pensioner bereavement payment.    

5

Check if any resulting overpaid amount can be waived    

• if waived, write B/W on the DPS report, sign it and, if applicable, record in the bulk waiver register
• if not able to be waived, seek recovery of overpayment    
  More →

  Procedure Library

  8.1.2/Overpayment due to Payment Released after Death

  More → (go back)

Step

Action

1

In PIPS, cancel the deceased's assessment, payments and fringe benefits entitlement from date of death.    

2

Calculate any pension entitlement owed from the date of the last pension payment actually received by the deceased, up to the date of death.

3

Calculate the single income support pension bereavement payment.    

4

Add these figures together and issue a cheque payable to the “Estate of the Pensioner”.    

5

Send with a covering letter either to the next-of-kin (if known), or to the estate care of the last known address of the pensioner. Access the Standard Letters System folder [Bereavmt], file [gen advice NOK] or [BP-cheque to be sent].

6

Alternatively, if correspondence has been received from a Solicitor or Public Trustee and you are satisfied that they are handling the estate, send the cheque and a covering letter to them instead.